Pride of the Courtneys by Margaret Dickinson Read Free Book Online Page B

I succeed as a doctor, Louella.’
    I knew he needed reassurance.
    â€˜Of course you will. Why people in the village already speak highly of you, and you have only been here a short time. Mrs Walters is an ardent follower of yours since you eased her little boy’s bronchitis so quickly. And, believe me, she holds considerable sway in the village amongst the ladies, so Mary tells me.’
    â€˜You’re very kind, Louella, to encourage me so. I have met with opposition since I arrived here, but mostly from the older folk who don’t trust my youth. I must admit, though, there’s not been as much distrust as I expected.’
    â€˜Kindness, no, Charles, I’m being truthful.’
    â€˜I think probably the Courtneys’ friendliness is an undoubted asset.’
    We fell silent. I was thinking of Georgiana and I wondered if Charles was too.
    Strangely enough, when we returned to the house, it was Georgiana who met us. A very distressed Georgiana. In her unhappiness she had forgiven her anger with me over Charles for she flung herself into my arms, her eyes red with weeping.
    â€˜Louella, the most dreadful thing, you must help me. I won’t do it, I can’t.’
    I glanced at Charles and was heartened to see his face was contorted with distress at Georgiana’s misery. Perhaps he does care for her, I thought. But these thoughts were cut short, for I had to attend to Georgiana’s immediate problem.
    â€˜My dearest, what is it? Tell us.’
    â€˜Not here. I can’t tell you here,’ she whispered, and glanced over her shoulder fearfully.
    â€˜Come quickly to the summer house, then.’
    And together, the three of us hurried down to the summer house near the lake.
    When we had settled down with Georgiana between us, I made her tell us the whole story from the beginning, promising we would do all we could, whatever it was.
    Although her eyes filled with tears, she began bravely.
    â€˜The first I knew about it was this afternoon, just after you had gone out. Mother called me down to the drawing-room. Father was with her, and Millicent. Mother said she had something to tell me of the utmost importance and that I must tell no one for the moment, until further plans had been made, but she thought it only fair to tell me now,’ Georgiana gulped painfully.
    â€˜She said that arrangements were under way for a marriage between—between Cedric Rothbone—and—and—me.’
    From her tone of voice, the idea was repulsive to her, without the fact that she loved Charles, as I believed she did.
    â€˜What?’ Charles exclaimed. ‘An arranged marriage with someone you hardly know. Do you know him, Georgiana?’
    â€˜No, I’ve never heard of him before today. Evidently, he is the son of Lord Rothbone, who lives on a grand estate, almost the size of ours about fifty miles away. Mother’s brother, Major Phillip Bassett, you know, Louella, Millicent’s father, is well acquainted with Lord Rothbone. He was evidently interested in an alliance between his son, Cedric, and Millicent. But—but, Uncle Phillip and mother have always been set on Millicent and Bassett marrying, so that Uncle Phillip suggested me, to Lord Rothbone, instead of Millicent.’
    And here she burst into fresh tears.
    I patted her hand comfortingly, though I could not think what to say. She was too young to disobey her parents’ wishes.
    â€˜Your only hope is Bassett. Surely he would not make you marry someone whom you did not love?’
    â€˜Bassett wasn’t there, but mother says he is in full agreement, and to his marriage to Millicent. We are to have a double wedding in September,’ she wailed.
    â€˜Did she say anything else?’
    Georgiana hesitated and glanced at me.
    â€˜Well—yes—but I don’t think …’
    â€˜Come, you must tell us everything,’ Charles prompted gently.
    â€˜But it’s about you,’ she